Photo/KRISTIN MAZGAJ ST. CLAIRSVILLE Robby Kain (13) is congratulated by senior Will Balgo after finishing the complete game Tuesday to defeat Indian Creek and win the school’s fifth straight Buckeye 8 baseball title.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE — – These are good times for St. Clairsville baseball.
Three days removed from adding another OVAC championship, the Red Devils tacked on the Buckeye 8 crown, disposing of Indian Creek, 2-0, Tuesday afternoon at Memorial Park. It marks St. C.’s fifth straight Buckeye 8 championship and ninth overall.
The Red Devils, who improved to 16-6 on the campaign, also boast the EOBL title this spring.
St. C. was limited to just two hits by Creek ace Aiden Fernandez. The hosts, however, rode the talented left arm of senior Robby Kain en route to victory.
Kain was simply sensational in going the distance. He allowed just three hits while striking out nine and walking only one.
“There are no words to describe Robby’s performance today,” veteran St. C. coach Tom Sliva said. “He was outstanding. He was senioresque.
“Robby battled through trouble, some of which was self-inflicted, some of it not,” added the Hall of Fame mentor. “I am very proud of him. We didn’t give him much support at the plate.”
Fernandez was brilliant, albeit in defeat. He fanned eight and passed just two. The Redskins stranded nine baserunners.
“It was a great pitching duel. Aiden is capable of that every time out,” Creek head coach Mike Cottis said. “We just didn’t get the key hit when we needed it. We stranded way too many runners. They took advantage of their opportunity.
“Kain was excellent and did a nice job of working out of trouble,” he added. “It was an exciting game. We lost to a quality team.”
The Redskins fell to 10-10 on the season.
The game’s lone runs came in the St. C. fourth inning.
Freshman dandy Braylen Blomquist opened the frame by roping a double to right center. After a groundout, Will Balgo coaxed a walk. Fernandez recorded the second out via a strikeout.
It appeared Creek would get out of the jam when Drew Sefsick lofted a fly ball to right field. The Redskin outfielder, however, dropped the ball, enabling Blomquist and Balgo to score.
The only other St. C. scoring threat came in the third frame. With one out, senior Luke Jozwiak singled and moved to third on two wild pitches. Cottis escaped by retiring the next two batters on a strikeout and flyball to center.
Creek loaded the bases in the second inning.
With one out, the Red Devils committed back-to-back errors. After a fielder’s choice, Aiden Orr singled to fill the sacks. Kain was equal to the task by inducing a groundout to first base.
The Redskins also used a single and another Red Devil error to place runners on first and second with one out in the fifth. Kain once again refused to crack, recording two straight strikeouts.
“We battled as a team. We had some rough moments,” Sliva said. “We never let things snowball. We kept our eyes on the prize.
“We are going to enjoy this today. It (Buckeye 8 title) was another one of our goals,” he added. “But we still have a lot of work to do. Our season starts Tuesday.”
That is the day when St. C. launches sectional play. The Red Devils will play the winner of the Minerva-John Glenn contest.
Sliva will take his well-drilled charges to Steubenville Thursday to face Big Red.
St. C. also celebrated Senior Night Tuesday. The Red Devils boast four seniors: Kain, Jozwiak, Balgo and standout Tyler Tonkovich.
Indian Creek 000 000 0 – 0 3 1
St. Clairsville 000 200 X – 2 2 4
BATTERIES: Fernandez (lp 8K, 2BB) and Furroni. Orr 2S; Furroni S.
Kain (wp 9K, 1BB) and Bush. Blomquist D; Jozwiak S.
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St. C. wins fifth straight Buckeye 8 baseball title - Martins Ferry Times Leader
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